Control device for a convertible vehicle roof which provides optimum clearance above the passenger compartment

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a control device for a convertible vehicle roof comprising several rear ( 1 ), intermediary ( 2 ) and front ( 3 ) rigid roof elements which can be moved between a closed position and a storage position. Said rear ( 1 ), intermediary ( 2 ) and front ( 3 ) elements are connected to each other and to the body in such a way as to pivot around three fulcrum pins (A 1 , A 2 , A 3 ). The inventive device comprises co-ordinating means ( 5, 6, 7, 8 ) which are used to co-ordinate the pivot movements around said pins (A 1 , A 2 , A 3 ). The invention is characterised in that the co-ordinating means ( 5, 6, 7, 8 ) are disposed such that the combined movement thereof enables the intermediary element ( 2 ) to be inclined at a greater angle when said element is in the highest position thereof.

The present invention concerns a device for a roof which can beretracted or folded away in the rear boot of a vehicle.

Such a retractable roof makes it possible in particular to transform avehicle of the two-seater coupé or four-seater coupé or saloon type intoa vehicle of the cabriolet type.

Roofs are known which can be retracted in the rear boot of a convertiblevehicle comprising at least one front roof element, one intermediateroof element and one rear roof element.

These various elements are connected by means for moving the threeelements between a closure position in which they cover the vehicle anda storage position in which they are stored in the rear boot.

In this retractable rigid roof system, the rear element is mounted so asto pivot on a transverse pivot axis on the vehicle bodywork.

The intermediate element is mounted so as to pivot between its rear endand the front end of the rear element.

The front element is mounted so as to pivot between its rear end and thefront end of the intermediate element.

In the storage position, the front element is situated between theintermediate element and the rear element, the whole forming asubstantially horizontal assembly in the rear boot.

The curves of the front and intermediate elements are then in oppositedirections whilst the curve on the front element is in the samedirection as the curve on the rear element, their concavity being turnedupwards.

In a vehicle having such a roof, where the front element pivots withrespect to the intermediate element, a problem is posed of movement ofthis element with respect to the movement of the rest of the retractableroof assembly.

In addition, under the roof elements in movement, there must existsufficient vertical clearance in order not to strike the head of one ofthe occupants of the vehicle.

The aim of the present invention is to afford improvements to the knownmeans, in order to control and guide the movement of the roof elementsin an optimum manner between the closure position and the storageposition in the boot.

To this end, the invention relates to a control device for a retractablevehicle roof, comprising several rigid rear, intermediate and front roofelements able to be moved between a position in which they are storedinside the rear boot of the vehicle, superimposed substantiallyhorizontally, the front element being placed between the rear elementand the intermediate element, and a position in which they cover thevehicle cabin, the rear of the rear element being connected pivotally tothe bodywork at a first transverse pivot axis, the rear of theintermediate element being connected pivotally to the front of the rearelement on a second transverse pivot axis, the rear of the front elementbeing connected pivotally to the front of the intermediate element on athird transverse pivot axis.

The device comprises drive means and coordination means for coordinatingthe pivot movements about the said axes.

According to the invention, the coordination means are arranged so thatthe combined movement of the coordination means allows a greaterinclination of the intermediate element when the latter is in itshighest position.

Thus the pivoting movement of the front element on the third axis isnon-linear with respect to the pivoting movement of the rear element onthe first axis.

On retraction, the device therefore makes it possible to raise theintermediate element so that the front edge of the front element doesnot encroach on the volume of the cabin.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the devicecomprises two arms articulated on the bodywork, a first link articulatedon the two arms close to one of its ends and at an intermediate point onthe intermediate element, and a second link articulated at one of itsends on the other end of the first link and at its other end on thefront element.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the second link isarticulated at one of its ends on the first link and at its other end ona lever able to pivot about a pivot axis so that the front element canpivot about the axis in order to be stored against the internal face ofthe intermediate element.

The two arms can be angled in the direction of the rear element. One ofthe two arms can be longer than the other.

The angled arms allow easy storage of the elements inside the boot.

Other particularities and advantages of the invention will also emergefrom the following description, a description given with reference tothe accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in schematic longitudinal section of a vehicle roofaccording to the invention in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is a view in schematic longitudinal section of the roof accordingto the invention in the course of retraction;

FIG. 3 is a view in schematic longitudinal section of the roof accordingto the invention in the storage position in the rear boot;

FIG. 4 is an outline diagram of the movement;

FIG. 5 is a view in longitudinal section of another embodiment of thearticulation of the intermediate 2 and front 3 elements.

The retractable roof depicted in FIG. 1 comprises three rigid roofelements 1, 2, 3 which can be moved between a position in which theycover the vehicle cabin (FIG. 1) and a position in which they are storedinside the rear boot of the vehicle (FIG. 3).

In the embodiment depicted of a roof with three elements, the rear ofthe rear element 1 rests against the rear boot of the vehicle and thefront of the front element 3 rests against the top end of a windscreen.

Each roof element 1, 2, 3 has an internal face 1 a, 2 a, 3 a situatedtowards the cabin and an external face 1 b, 2 b, 3 b situated towardsthe outside of the vehicle.

The rear of the rear element 1 is connected pivotally to the vehiclebodywork on a pivot axis A1 transverse to the longitudinal direction ofthe vehicle.

The rear of the intermediate element 2 is connected pivotally to thefront of the rear element 1 on a pivot axis A2 transverse to thelongitudinal direction of the vehicle.

The pivot axis A2 is situated substantially level with the internalfaces 1 a, 2 a of the rear 1 and intermediate 2 elements.

Finally, the rear of the front element 3 is connected pivotally to thefront of the intermediate element 2 on a pivot axis A3 transverse to thelongitudinal direction of the vehicle. The axis A3 is situatedsubstantially level with the internal faces 2 a, 3 a of the intermediate2 and front 3 elements.

With reference to FIG. 3, in the storage position, through the positionof the pivot axis A3, the intermediate 2 and front 3 elements aresuperimposed against one another along their internal faces 2 a, 3 a.The curves of these two elements are then in opposite directions.

The front element 3 is, in this storage position, interposed between therear 1 and intermediate 2 elements, the curves of the rear 1 and front 3elements being in the same direction.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, the roof retraction mechanismcomprises, on each side of the vehicle:

-   -   a pair of angled arms 5, 6;    -   a first link 7;    -   a second link 8;    -   points of articulation 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 between the        previous elements 5, 6, 7, 8.

Each arm in the pair of angled arms 5, 6 is articulated on the bodyworkat an articulation point 9, 10 and on the first link 7 at anarticulation point 11, 12.

The articulation point 11 is situated at the end of the link 7.

The articulation point 12 is situated at a point close to the end of thelink 7, the distance between the articulation points 11, 12 and betweenthe points 9, 10 determining the geometry of the quadrilateral 9, 10,11, 12 and therefore the inherent kinematics of the link 7.

The first link 7 is articulated at its end opposite to the articulationpoints 11, 12 on the second link 8 at an articulation point 13.

This first link 7 is also articulated on the intermediate roof element 2at an articulation point 14 forming a pivot.

The distance between the articulation points 13 and 14 determines theinherent kinematics of the front element 3.

The articulation point 14 is situated substantially on the internal face2 a of the intermediate element 2.

At its end opposite to the first link 7, the second link 8 isarticulated on the rear of the front element 3 at an articulation point15.

In the closed position, the arms 5, 6 and links 7, 8 do notsubstantially encroach on the vehicle cabin.

A person skilled in the art will know how to choose the relative lengthsand positionings of the various elements of the device so that these areadapted to the roof and make it possible to achieve the retraction, theprinciple of which is explained below.

The retraction of the roof elements 1, 2, 3 in the rear boot of thevehicle is described, the passage from the storage position to theclosed position taking place in a reverse movement of the roof elements.

The movement of the rear element 1 towards the vehicle boot iscontrolled by any suitable means 16 such as an electric or hydraulicmotor enabling the rear element 1 to pivot about its pivot axis A1.

The movement of the rear element 1 gives rise to a general movement ofthe whole of the roof and particularly the pivoting of this about thepivot axis A2.

The movement of the intermediate element 2 is also guided by theassembly formed by the two arms 5, 6 and the first link 7 articulated atthe articulation point 13.

Likewise the movement of the intermediate element 2 gives rise to amovement of the front element 3 and the pivoting thereof about the pivotaxis A3.

The movement of the front element 3 is also guided by the second link 8.

Thus the three elements, rear 1, intermediate 2 and front 3, have asimultaneous and coordinated movement.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, when the rear element 1 and frontelement 3 are substantially vertical.

Around this position, the intermediate element 2 is at its highest withrespect to the car cabin and offers a maximum vertical clearance for thetilting of the front element 3.

The arm 6 is placed with respect to the arm 5 so that the articulationpoint 12 moves more towards the rear than the articulation point 11.

Thus, when the rear element 1 tilts towards the rear, the part of thelink 7 lying between the articulation points 11, 14 tilts forwards.

The movement of the link 7 gives rise to a traction of the second link8, itself causing a folding of the front element 3 towards theintermediate element 2.

The angle α formed by the link 7 and the two pairs of arms 5, 6 issubstantially 180°, the maximum value reached during retraction.

The higher the value of the angle α, the more the intermediate element 2can be raised with respect to the cabin, thus offering a maximumvertical clearance for allowing pivoting of the front element 3 notinterfering with the vehicle passengers.

The combined movement of the link 7 with respect to the arms 5 and 6 andthe movement of the assembly composed of the arms 5, 6 and the link 7with respect to the movement of the rear 1 and intermediate 2 elementscause a progressive pivoting of the front element 3 by means of the link8.

Subsequently the movement of the various elements 1, 2, 3 continuesuntil these are substantially superimposed horizontally in the vehicleboot, as shown in FIG. 3.

Between the closed position and the storage position, the arms 5, 6 havemade a rotation of approximately 180°.

With reference to FIG. 5, in a second embodiment, the tilting of thefront element 3 under the intermediate element 2 is effected by the link8 articulated at an articulation point 17 on an L-shaped lever 18.

The lever 18 is able to pivot on a pivot axis A4 situated to the frontof and below the internal face 2 a of the intermediate element 2.

All the retraction means described above are placed so that, when theroof is retracted, the link 8 pushes the part of the lever on which itis articulated.

The lever 18 pivots about its axis A4 and the front element is placedunder the intermediate element.

1. A control device for a retractable vehicle roof, comprising severalrigid rear (1) , intermediate (2) and front (3) roof elements able to bemoved between a position in which they are stored inside the rear bootof the vehicle, superimposed substantially horizontally, the frontelement (3) being placed between the rear element (1) and theintermediate element (2), and a position in which they cover the vehiclecabin, the rear of the rear element (1) being connected pivotally to thebodywork at a first transverse pivot axis (A1), the rear of theintermediate element (2) being connected pivotally to the front of therear element (3) on a second transverse pivot axis (A2), the rear of thefront element (3) being connected pivotally to the front of theintermediate element (2) on a third transverse pivot axis (A3), saiddevice comprising drive means (16) and coordination means (5, 6, 7, 8)for coordinating the pivoting movements about said axes (A1, A2, A3),characterised in that said coordination means (5, 6, 7, 8) are arrangedso that the combined movement of the coordination means (5, 6, 7) allowsa greater inclination of the intermediate element 2 when the latter isin its highest position, the coordination means comprising two armsarticulated on the bodywork at two articulation points, a first linkarticulated on the two arms close to one of its ends at two articulationpoints and at an intermediate point on the intermediate element.
 2. Acontrol device for a retractable vehicle roof, comprising several rigidrear (1), intermediate (2) and front (3) roof elements able to be movedbetween a position in which they are stored inside the rear boot of thevehicle, superimposed substantially horizontally, the front element (3)being placed between the rear element (1) and the intermediate element(2), and a position in which they cover the vehicle cabin, the rear ofthe rear element (1) being connected pivotally to the bodywork at afirst transverse pivot axis (A1), the rear of the intermediate element(2) being connected pivotally to the front of the rear element (3) on asecond transverse pivot axis (A2), the rear of the front element (3)being connected pivotally to the front of the intermediate element (2)on a third transverse pivot axis (A3) , said device comprising drivemeans (16) and coordination means (5, 6, 7, 8) for coordinating thepivoting movements about said axes (A1, A2, A3), characterised in thatsaid coordination means (5,
 6. 7, 8) are arranged so that the combinedmovement of the coordination means (5, 6, 7) allows a greaterinclination of the intermediate element 2 when the latter is in itshighest position, being further characterised in that it comprises twoarms (5, 6) articulated on the bodywork at two articulation points (9,10), a first link (7) articulated on the two arms (5, 6) close to one ofits ends at two articulation points (11, 12) and at an intermediatepoint (14) on the intermediate element (2), and a second link (8)articulated at one of its ends on the other end of the first link (7)and at its other end on the front element (3).
 3. A control device for aretractable vehicle roof, comprising several rigid rear (1),intermediate (2) and front (3) roof elements able to be moved between aposition in which they are stored inside the rear boot of the vehicle,superimposed substantially horizontally, the front element (3) beingplaced between the rear element (1) and the intermediate element (2),and a position in which they cover the vehicle cabin, the rear of therear element (1) being connected pivotally to the bodywork at a firsttransverse pivot axis (A1), the rear of the intermediate element (2)being connected pivotally to the front of the rear element (3) on asecond transverse pivot axis (A2), the rear of the front element (3)being connected pivotally to the front of the intermediate element (2)on a third transverse pivot axis (A3), said device comprising drivemeans (16) and coordination means (5, 6, 7, 8) for coordinating thepivoting movements about said axes (A1, A2, A3), characterised in thatsaid coordination means (5, 6, 7, 8) are arranged so that the combinedmovement of the coordination means (5, 6, 7) allows a greaterinclination of the intermediate element 2 when the latter is in itshighest position, being further characterised in that it comprises twoarms (5, 6) articulated on the bodywork at two articulation points (9,10), a first link (7) articulated on the two arms (5, 6) close to one ofits ends at two articulation points (11, 12) and at an intermediatepoint (14) on the intermediate element (2), and a second link (8)articulated at one of its ends on the other end of the first link (7)and at its other end on a lever (18) able to pivot about a pivot axis(A4) so that the front element (3) can pivot about the axis A4 in orderto be stored against the internal face of the intermediate element
 2. 4.A device according to claim 2, characterised in that the two arms (5, 6)are angled in the direction of the rear element.